Lock/floating marker band on pusher wire for self-expanding stents or medical devices

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for deploying and retrieving a self-expanding intravascular stent includes an intravascular delivery wire and floating marker band movably retained over the intravascular stent delivery wire and releasably mounting the self-expanding intravascular stent. The floating marker band is movably retained to a fixed marker band, and a distance between the fixed marker band and the floating marker band is variable and self-adjusting. One or more struts of the self-expanding intravascular stent are releasably constrained between a catheter wall and one or more sides of the floating marker band.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to systems for deploying and/orretrieving intravascular stents, and more particularly relates to anapparatus for deploying and/or retrieving a self-expanding intravascularstent or medical device, including an intravascular stent delivery wireor pusher wire having one or more floating marker bands movably retainedor constrained over the intravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wirefor delivery and retrieval of an intravascular stent releasably placedover the one or more floating marker bands.

Intravascular stents are generally tubular and are actively or passivelyexpanded radially in the vasculature of a patient. Such stents can bemounted over an expandable member or balloon of a balloon angioplastycatheter, for deployment of the stents by expansion of the balloon atthe treatment site of the vasculature, such as at a stenosis or ananeurysm. Self-expanding stents can expand from a compressed deliveryposition to a larger diameter without the assistance of an expandablemember or balloon.

Intravascular stent delivery systems for placement of an intravascularself-expanding stent at a treatment site in the vasculature typicallyhave included a catheter that can be threaded through the vasculaturewith the self-expanding stent axially placed over a distal portion ofthe catheter. To position an intravascular stent at the treatment siteof the vasculature, such as at a stenosis or an aneurysm, a guidingcatheter is typically introduced into the vascular system of a patient,and advanced within the vasculature until the distal tip of the guidingcatheter is adjacent to the treatment site. A guidewire is typicallythen advanced through the guiding catheter to the desired location, andthen a dilatation or delivery catheter having a stent positioned on thedilatation or delivery catheter is advanced into the patient'svasculature over the guidewire, until the stent is properly positioned,after which the stent can be deployed at the treatment site.

One common technique for maintaining a self-expanding stent in a lowprofile configuration involves placement of a sheath or a sleeve oversome or all of the stent, typically either to retain the stent in acompressed configuration around the catheter, to prevent body fluidsfrom reaching the stent, or to protect the vasculature from the stent.Usually such a sheath or sleeve is retracted or released from the stentto allow the stent to achieve an expanded configuration.

A guidewire loaded stent is also known in which a radially expandablestent carried on a guidewire is covered in part by a retractablerestraining sheath at or near a distal end of the guidewire. When thestent is placed at a treatment site, the restraining sheath is retractedto expose the stent and thus allow the stent to expand.

It would be desirable to provide an intravascular stent delivery system,including an intravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wire having oneor more floating marker bands movably retained or constrained over theintravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wire for delivery andretrieval of a self-expanding intravascular stent or medical devicereleasably placed over the one or more floating marker bands, in orderto provide a reduced diameter profile to permit delivery of anintravascular stent to smaller diameter and more delicate vessels of thevasculature, such as the neurovasculature.

It would also be desirable to provide an intravascular stent deliverywire or pusher wire having one or more floating marker bands movablyretained or constrained over the intravascular stent delivery wire orpusher wire to allow for an integration of a proximal or distal segmentof a self-expanding intravascular stent or medical device with theintravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wire to be fit into acatheter or tubular sheath and advanced and retracted within thecatheter, within the vasculature of a patient, and to allow for theself-expanding intravascular stent or medical device to be retrievedback into the catheter after partial stent deployment.

It would also be desirable to provide an intravascular stent deliverywire or pusher wire having one or more floating marker bands movablyretained or constrained over the intravascular stent delivery wire orpusher wire with a self-adjusting, variable gap between theself-expanding intravascular stent or medical device and a fixed markerband fixedly mounted on the intravascular stent delivery wire or pusherwire, in order to facilitate ease of advancement or retraction of theassembly and to allow for improved articulation of the self-expandingintravascular stent or medical device with respect to the intravascularstent delivery wire or pusher wire in a narrow vascular curvature whichwould otherwise not allow for traversing of the curve with conventionalsystems.

It also would be desirable to provide an intravascular stent deliverysystem including an intravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wirehaving one or more floating marker bands movably retained or constrainedover the intravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wire for deliveryand retrieval of an intravascular stent releasably placed over the oneor more floating marker bands, so that the intravascular stent deliverywire or pusher wire tip is free to rotate during system advancement, forease of navigating tortuous vascular anatomy.

It also would be desirable to provide an intravascular stent deliverysystem including an intravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wirewith one or more floating marker bands having an outside circumferencewith a multi-sided or polygon shape, such as a square shape orpentagonal shape, for example, to allow for struts, legs or radiopaquemarkers of the self-expanding intravascular stent or medical device toextend beyond the one or more floating marker bands so that the struts,legs or radiopaque markers of the self-expanding intravascular stent ormedical device are constrained by the catheter or tube wall and by oneor more sides of the one or more floating marker bands, to allow for theself-expanding intravascular stent or medical device to interface withthe intravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wire, and to allow theself-expanding intravascular stent or medical device to maintain columnstrength not to buckle under compression loads, particularly so that theself-expanding intravascular stent or medical device can be retrievedunder tensile loads.

It also would be desirable to provide an intravascular stent deliverysystem including an intravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wirewith one or more floating marker bands that can be located under thebody of the self-expanding intravascular stent or medical device toprovide support for the self-expanding intravascular stent or medicaldevice, and to prevent or minimize stent buckling of the self-expandingintravascular stent or medical device. The present invention meets theseand other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly and in general terms, the present invention provides for anapparatus for deploying and/or retrieving a self-expanding intravascularstent or medical device, including an intravascular delivery wire andone or more floating marker bands movably retained or constrained overthe intravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wire, and configured toreleasably mount a self-expanding intravascular stent or medical deviceon the one or more floating marker bands. In a presently preferredaspect, the outside circumference of the lock/floating marker band(s)has a multi-sided or polygon shape, such as a square shape or pentagonalshape, for example. In another presently preferred aspect, theintravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wire tip is free to rotateduring system advancement for ease of navigating tortuous vascularanatomy.

In another presently preferred aspect, the one or more floating markerbands can be movably retained or constrained to a fixed marker band suchas by a coil spring, braid or wire, for example, which can be connectedto a ring or laser indentation on the fixed marker band, for example.The fixed marker band is fixedly attached to the intravascular stentdelivery wire or pusher wire. Alternatively, the one or more floatingmarker bands can be movably retained or constrained to the intravascularstent delivery wire or pusher wire, such as by a coil spring, braid orwire, for example, which can be connected to a ring or laser indentationon the intravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wire, for example.

In another presently preferred aspect, a distance between the fixedmarker band and the one or more floating marker bands is variable, andthe distance between the fixed marker band and the one or more floatingmarker bands is self-adjusting in length by increasing or decreasingduring advancement or retraction in response to anatomic vasculartortuosity to maintain smooth articulation.

In another presently preferred aspect, a proximal segment of theself-expanding intravascular stent or medical device is mounted over theone or more floating marker bands. Alternatively, a distal segment ofthe self-expanding intravascular stent or medical device can be mountedover the one or more floating marker bands. Preferably the stent tointravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wire articulation in a tightvascular curvature is self-adjusting to provide a variable gap or lengthbetween the stent and the fixed marker band to facilitate ease ofassembly advancement or retraction.

In another presently preferred aspect, the apparatus for deployingand/or retrieving a self-expanding intravascular stent or medical devicealso includes a catheter or tubular sheath, and one or more struts orlegs of the self-expanding intravascular stent or medical device extendbeyond the one or more floating marker bands, so that the struts, legsor radiopaque markers of the self-expanding intravascular stent ormedical device are constrained between the catheter or tube wall and atleast one side of the one or more floating marker bands, which allowsfor the self-expanding intravascular stent or medical device tointerface with intravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wire and forthe self-expanding intravascular stent or medical device to maintaincolumn strength and not to buckle under compression loads. In anotherpresently preferred aspect, the self-expanding intravascular stent ormedical device can be retrieved under tensile loads as the one or morefloating marker bands will engage the struts, legs or radiopaque markersof the self-expanding intravascular stent or medical device.

In another presently preferred aspect, the apparatus for deploying andretrieving a self-expanding intravascular medical device, includes anintravascular pusher wire having a distal portion and a proximal portionand at least one floating marker band movably constrained over theintravascular pusher wire. The at least one floating marker band isconfigured to releasably mount a self-expanding intravascular medicaldevice thereon and at least one fixed marker band is fixedly attached tothe intravascular pusher wire, with the at least one floating markerband movably retained to the at least one fixed marker band by at leastone constraining member. A distance between the at least one fixedmarker band and the at least one floating marker band may beself-adjusting. The apparatus may also include a self-expandingintravascular medical device having a proximal segment mounted to atleast one floating marker band. The apparatus may also include a tubularsheath having a wall within which the self-expanding intravascularmedical device is disposed, the self-expanding intravascular medicaldevice having at least one strut extending over the at least onefloating marker band and constrained by the wall of the tubular sheathand by at least one side of the at least one floating marker band. Theat least one floating marker band may have an outside circumference of apolygonal shape selected from the group of polygonal shapes consistingof square and pentagonal shapes. The at least one constraining membermay include at least one coil spring. The at least one constrainingmember may include at least one braid. The at least one constrainingmember may include at least one retainer wire. The at least one retainerwire may be connected to a ring on the at least one fixed marker band.The intravascular stent delivery wire may have an intermediate portiondisposed between the distal portion and the proximal portion. Theintravascular stent delivery wire may include a coiled wire portion anda core wire portion with the coiled wire portion being wrapped aroundthe core wire portion. The core wire portion may extend uniformly fromthe proximal portion to the distal portion of the intravascular stentdelivery wire. The coiled wire portion may vary between at least two of:the proximal portion, the intermediate portion, and the distal portion,in at least one of the following properties: distance between adjacentcoils, diameter of coils, thickness of wire, and material composition ofwire. The at least one floating marker band may separate at least one ofthe following: (i) the proximal portion and the intermediate portion ofthe intravascular stent delivery wire and (ii) the distal portion andthe intermediate portion of the intravascular stent delivery wire. Theat least one floating marker band may separate the proximal portion andthe distal portion of the intravascular stent delivery wire. Theapparatus of may also include at least one fixed marker band fixedlyattached to the intravascular stent delivery wire, with the at least onefloating marker band movably retained to the at least one fixed markerband. The at least one fixed marker band may separate at least one ofthe following: (i) the proximal portion and the intermediate portion ofthe intravascular stent delivery wire and (ii) the distal portion andthe intermediate portion of the intravascular stent delivery wire. Theat least one fixed marker band may separate the proximal portion and thedistal portion of the intravascular stent delivery wire. The apparatusmay include two or more of the fixed marker bands, and a self-expandingintravascular stent, with the stent deployable over at least two of thetwo or more fixed marker bands. The apparatus may include two or more ofthe floating marker bands, and a self-expanding intravascular stent,with the stent deployable over at least two of the two or more floatingmarker bands. The apparatus may also include a self-expandingintravascular stent, with the stent deployable over the at least onefloating marker band and the at least one fixed marker band. Theapparatus may include a floating marker band movably retained to theintravascular stent delivery wire by at least one constraining member.The constraining member may include a braid, a coil spring, or aretainer wire. The retainer wire may be connected to a ring or anindentation on the intravascular stent delivery wire. The intravascularstent delivery wire may have a tip that is free to rotate duringadvancement of the intravascular stent delivery wire into a vasculature,for ease of navigating tortuous vascular anatomy. The at least oneretainer wire may be connected to a ring on the intravascular stentdelivery wire. The at least one retainer wire may be connected to anindentation on the at least one fixed marker band. The at least oneretainer wire may be connected to an indentation on the intravascularstent delivery wire.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent from the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, whichillustrate, by way of example, the operation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the apparatus fordeploying and/or retrieving a self-expanding intravascular stent ormedical device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a first variation ofthe apparatus for deploying and/or retrieving a self-expandingintravascular stent or medical device according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a second variation ofthe apparatus for deploying and/or retrieving a self-expandingintravascular stent or medical device according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a third variation ofthe apparatus for deploying and/or retrieving a self-expandingintravascular stent or medical device according to the invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a fourth variation ofthe apparatus for deploying and/or retrieving a self-expandingintravascular stent or medical device according to the invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the apparatus fordeploying and/or retrieving a self-expanding intravascular stent ormedical device according to the invention as in FIG. 1, with anadditional floating marker band added to the other side of the fixedmarker band.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a first variation ofthe apparatus for deploying and/or retrieving a self-expandingintravascular stent or medical device according to the invention as inFIG. 2, with an additional fixed marker band added to the other side ofthe floating marker band.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a floating marker band having an outsidecircumference with a square shape.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a floating marker band having an outsidecircumference with a pentagonal shape.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of one embodiment of theintravascular delivery wire or pusher wire according to the presentinvention in which the wire includes an inner core wire portion and anouter coil wire portion.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of one embodiment of the intravascular deliverywire or pusher wire according to the present invention in which the wireincludes an inner core wire portion and an outer coil wire portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, which are provided by way of example, and notby way of limitation, the present invention provides for an apparatus 10for deploying and/or retrieving a self-expanding intravascular stent ormedical device. The apparatus includes one or more floating marker bands12 having a central aperture 13 therethrough and movably retained orconstrained over an intravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wire 14extending through the central aperture of the one or more floatingmarker bands.

The intravascular delivery wire or pusher wire includes a proximalportion 16, a distal portion 18, and an intermediate portion 20 inbetween the proximal and distal portions. In some embodiments,additional intermediate portions may be provided. The wire may beuniform throughout and across the respective portions or it may vary inone or more attributes from one portion to the next.

The one or more floating marker bands are configured to releasably mounta self-expanding intravascular stent or medical device 22 on the one ormore floating marker bands. One or more fixed marker bands 24, typicallyhaving an outside circumference with a round shape, are fixedly anchoredto the intravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wire.

In some embodiments, the intravascular delivery wire or pusher wirecomprises a constraining member 26 such as a member having a coiled wireportion 28, and a core wire portion 30. The core wire portion may bestraight or linear with the coiled wire portion wrapped around it, forexample in a helical manner. The core wire portion may be uniform fromone portion to the next with the coiled wire portion varying between twoor more of the portions. For example, the coiled wire portion may varywith respect to one or more of the following attributes: distancebetween adjacent coils, diameter of coils, thickness of wire, andmaterial composition of wire.

For example, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, the one or more floatingmarker bands can be movably retained or constrained on the intravascularstent delivery wire or pusher wire by the constraining member, which cantake the form of a coil spring 32, a braid 34, or a retainer wire 36,which can be connected to a ring 38, or a laser indentation 64 on theintravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wire or fixed marker band(see FIGS. 4 and 5).

The distance 40 between the fixed marker band and the one or morefloating marker bands is dictated by the self-expanding intravascularstent or medical device design. The distance between the one or morefloating marker bands and the fixed band is variable, or not constant,and will self-adjust in length by increasing or decreasing duringadvancement or retraction in response to anatomic vascular tortuosity tomaintain smooth articulation. The stent to intravascular stent deliverywire or pusher wire articulation in a tight vascular curvature isself-adjusting to provide a variable gap or length between theself-expanding intravascular stent or medical device and the fixedmarker band to facilitate ease of assembly advancement or retraction.

This assembly is intended to fit into a catheter or tubular sheath 42.The intravascular stent delivery wire or pusher wire tip 44 is free torotate during system advancement for ease of navigating tortuousvascular anatomy. This invention is suitable for integration with aproximal segment 46 of the self-expanding intravascular stent or medicaldevice or with a distal segment 48 of the self-expanding intravascularstent or medical device. Proximal integration is optimal for systemadvancement, deployment and stent retraction. As is illustrated in FIGS.1 and 3-5, the one or more floating marker bands may be distal to thefixed marker band, or may be proximal to the fixed marker band as isshown in FIG. 2, or may be both distal and proximal to the fixed markerband as is shown in FIGS. 6-7. There may be one or more floating markerbands distal to the fixed marker band and one or more floating markerband proximal to the fixed marker band as shown in FIG. 6. Or, there maybe one floating marker band 12 distal in relationship to a first fixedmarker band 24 and proximal in relationship to a second fixed markerband 24 as shown in FIG. 7.

The outside circumference 50 of the one or more floating marker bandshas a multi-sided or polygon shape, such as a square shape 52 or apentagonal shape 54, for example. This allows for the struts or legs 56or radiopaque markers 58 of a stent to extend beyond the one or morefloating marker bands so that the struts, legs or radiopaque markers ofthe stent are constrained by the catheter or tube wall 60, and by atleast one side 62 of the one or more floating marker bands. This allowsfor the stent to interface with intravascular stent delivery wire orpusher wire and for the stent end to maintain column strength and not tobuckle under compression loads. The stent can be retrieved under tensileload as the one or more floating marker bands will engage proximal ordistal struts or legs or radiopaque stent markers of the self-expandingintravascular stent or medical device. The one or more floating markerbands are preferably located under the stent body to provide stentsupport and to prevent or minimize stent buckling.

It should be readily apparent from the foregoing that the variousportions (proximal, distal, intermediate) of the intravascular deliverywire or pusher wire may be separated from each other by one or more of afloating marker band and a fixed marker band. A stent or other medicaldevice may be deployable between any two floating marker bands or fixedmarker bands. A self-expanding intravascular stent or other medicaldevice may be mounted on the marker bands. The arrangement of markerbands may include a single floating marker band and a single fixedmarker band. In another embodiment, the arrangement may include a seriesof three or more marker bands. Still other variations of arrangements ofone or more floating marker bands and one or more fixed marker bandstogether are possible for releasably mounting a stent or other medicaldevice thereon and are considered within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that while particular forms ofthe invention have been illustrated and described, various modificationscan be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention belimited, except as by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for deploying and retrieving aself-expanding intravascular stent, comprising: an intravascular stentdelivery wire having a distal portion and a proximal portion; at leastone floating marker band movably retained over said intravascular stentdelivery wire and configured to releasably mount a self-expandingintravascular stent thereon; and at least one fixed marker band fixedlyattached to the intravascular stent delivery wire, wherein said at leastone floating marker band is movably retained to said at least one fixedmarker band by at least one constraining member including at least onecoil spring.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least onefloating marker band separates the proximal portion and the distalportion of the intravascular stent delivery wire.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 1, comprising two or more of the floating marker bands, andfurther comprising a self-expanding intravascular stent, wherein thestent is deployable over at least two of the two or more floating markerbands.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intravascular stentdelivery wire comprises a freely rotatable tip configured to freelyrotate during advancement of the intravascular stent delivery wire intoa vasculature, for ease of navigating tortuous vascular anatomy.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a self-expanding intravascularstent having a proximal segment mounted to said at least one floatingmarker band.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a catheterhaving a wall within which the self-expanding intravascular stent isdisposed, the self-expanding intravascular stent having at least onestrut extending over said at least one floating marker band such thatsaid at least one strut of the self-expanding intravascular stent isconstrained by the catheter wall and by at least one side of said atleast one floating marker band.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid at least one floating marker band has an outside circumferencehaving a multi-sided shape.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein themulti-sided shape is selected from the group of multi-sided shapesconsisting of square and pentagonal shapes.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the intravascular stent delivery wire comprises an intermediateportion disposed between the distal portion and the proximal portion.10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said at least one floating markerband separates at least one of the following: (i) the proximal portionand the intermediate portion of the intravascular stent delivery wireand (ii) the distal portion and the intermediate portion of theintravascular stent delivery wire.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, whereinthe intravascular stent delivery wire comprises a coiled wire portionand a core wire portion, the coiled wire portion being wrapped aroundthe core wire portion.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the corewire portion extends uniformly from the proximal portion to the distalportion of the intravascular stent delivery wire.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein the coiled wire portion varies between at least twoof: the proximal portion, the intermediate portion, and the distalportion, in at least one of the following properties: distance betweenadjacent coils, diameter of coils, thickness of wire, and materialcomposition of wire.
 14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising atleast one fixed marker band fixedly attached to the intravascular stentdelivery wire, wherein said at least one floating marker band is movablyretained to said at least one fixed marker band.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 14, wherein said at least one fixed marker band separates at leastone of the following: (i) the proximal portion and the intermediateportion of the intravascular stent delivery wire and (ii) the distalportion and the intermediate portion of the intravascular stent deliverywire.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a distance between said atleast one fixed marker band and said at least one floating marker bandis variable.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least onefixed marker band separates the proximal portion and the distal portionof the intravascular stent delivery wire.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1,comprising two or more of the fixed marker bands, and further comprisinga self-expanding intravascular stent, wherein the stent is deployableover at least two of the two or more fixed marker bands.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a self-expanding intravascularstent, wherein the stent is deployable over said at least one floatingmarker band and said at least one fixed marker band.
 20. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein said at least one constraining member comprises atleast one braid.
 21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least onefloating marker band is movably retained to said intravascular stentdelivery wire by at least one constraining member.
 22. The apparatus ofclaim 21, wherein said at least one constraining member comprises anelement selected from the group consisting of a braid and a coil spring.23. An apparatus for deploying and retrieving a self-expandingintravascular medical device, comprising: an intravascular pusher wirehaving a distal portion and a proximal portion; at least one floatingmarker band movably constrained over the intravascular pusher wire, saidat least one floating marker band being configured to releasably mount aself-expanding intravascular medical device thereon; and at least onefixed marker band fixedly attached to the intravascular pusher wire,wherein said at least one floating marker band is movably retained tosaid at least one fixed marker band by at least one constraining memberincluding at least one coil spring.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23,wherein a distance between said at least one fixed marker band and saidat least one floating marker band is self-adjusting.
 25. The apparatusof claim 23, wherein said at least one floating marker band has anoutside circumference having a polygonal shape selected from the groupof polygonal shapes consisting of square and pentagonal shapes.
 26. Theapparatus of claim 23, wherein said at least one constraining membercomprises at least one braid.
 27. The apparatus of claim 23, furthercomprising a self-expanding intravascular medical device having aproximal segment mounted to said at least one floating marker band. 28.The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a tubular sheath having awall within which the self-expanding intravascular medical device isdisposed, the self-expanding intravascular medical device having atleast one strut extending over said at least one floating marker bandand constrained by the wall of the tubular sheath and by at least oneside of said at least one floating marker band.